Coxhead, Ernest, House
Also known as: Scholars' Cottage; Coxhead Bed and Breakfast
Why it's listed
Built around 1893 at 37 East Santa Inez Avenue in San Mateo, this two-story half-timbered house with stucco infill and a separate carriage house was the suburban second home of English-born architect Ernest Coxhead. Its paired bowed gables, leaded windows, heavy timbers and redwood-paneled interior show Coxhead combining English country and Arts and Crafts ideas. Rooms flow into one another rather than opening off a central hall, a departure from Victorian planning. The house was once in open country, and it reflects the 1890s fashion for informal homes in rustic suburbs. The carriage house shows the move from agricultural barn to suburban garage. Later owners included Arthur Pope and Phyllis Ackerman, scholars of Persian art. Changes include a replaced roof, an enclosed porch and a 1997 conversion to a bed and breakfast. It was listed for its architecture, as a work of Coxhead with its integrity largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important work of Ernest Coxhead and of the First Bay Tradition, combining English vernacular and Arts and Crafts forms with an open, flowing interior plan unlike Victorian houses. It is also the architect's own house, which shows him experimenting with new ideas. The carriage house is presented as an example of the shift from barn to garage in early suburbs.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00000322, listed April 6, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 37 E. Santa Inez Ave., San Mateo |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | April 6, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000322 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Coxhead, Ernest |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted in 1997 to a bed and breakfast; the house retains its architectural integrity, with limited alterations to roofing and the southwest porch. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.57009, -122.33275 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00000322.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133522214
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.